Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak returns to court Sunday to face charges over the killing of peaceful protesters as Muslim Brotherhood leaders make their first appearances in court on similar but unrelated charges.

Separate hearings in different parts of the capital come against the backdrop of continued tension in the country, which has been rocked by political turmoil since the army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi 3 July following nationwide demonstrations against Muslim Brotherhood rule.

El-Shater and Bayoumi were rounded up earlier, following the ouster of Morsi, a fellow Brotherhood member.

They are accused of inciting the murder of protesters who died outside their Cairo headquarters on the evening of 30 June, when millions of Egyptians attended anti-Morsi protests.

Another three Brotherhood members will stand trial with them, accused of carrying out the murders in question.

All six face the death penalty if convicted.

Egyptian authorities have issued arrest warrants and detention orders for hundreds of Brotherhood members and detained several senior leaders of the group in recent days.

According to security sources, at least 2,000 have been arrested since 14 August.

Morsi, who is being held at an undisclosed location, faces charges related to his escape from prison during the 2011 uprising, as well as complicity in the deaths and torture of protesters.

The latter charge involves demonstrations against him outside the presidential place in late 2012.

Sunday's court cases come after days of relative calm in Egypt, following a week of unprecedented bloodletting in the country that began on 14 August when security forces moved to break up two pro-Morsi protest camps in Cairo, sparking clashes that left around 600 people dead across the country in a single day.

Additional violence followed in the days after, raising fears of prolonged bloodshed.

But authorities have mounted a fierce crackdown against the Brotherhood and its allies that has thinned the group's ranks and sent many members into hiding.

The arrests have also shattered the group's structure and made it increasingly difficult for the group to turn out in force at demonstrations.

On Friday, just a few thousand took part in marches across Cairo — a stark drop from the tens of thousands that had turned out in previous demonstrations.

The government has insisted it will proceed with a political roadmap laid down by the army following the dismissal of Morsi 3 July, one which includes a plan for a new constitution and elections, but is rejected by the Muslim Brotherhood.